The type of laser is a COIL laser- Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser. It lases at 1.315 microns wavelength. This wavelength passes through air and fused silica well, but is strongly absorbed by most metals. COIL lasers are able to deliver very high average powers for fairly long durations (seconds). MegaWatt range average powers have been achieved with this type of laser.

I would NOT want to be in a sealed plane with one of these monsters- The chemicals are VERY nasty. Chlorine, Iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium hydroxide. The number of shots you get with one is limited by the amount of the chemicals that you have on hand.

The wavelength of 1.315 microns is invisible to the human eye, but it is within the transmission range of the human eye (.4-1.5 microns) so it can cause retinal damage. Collateral damage could include permanent eye damage and blindness. Goggles coated to reflect this wavelength could protect the eyes of bystanders, but how likely are bystanders to have such protection?

The article you linked to stated the laser was 'kiloWatt class'. I have to assume that this is an understatement. At my last job I ran a 20 million dollar solid state Nd:Yag laser (serial number 00001). That laser was designed to be the pointing laser for the Air Borne Laser (Another COIL laser). We were using it for the extreme ultraviolet lithography project at Sandia. The laser projected 3 500 watt beams with a diameter of ~1cm. It would take a couple of semi trucks to tranport it. This laser was technically 'kilowatt class'.

When focussed down each of the 500 watt beams could cut steel- but its a catch 22- the smaller the spot you are concentrating the power into the more damage you do to the material- but it also means that the area damaged is small.

If you have an image of this laser vaporizing entire tanks - forget it. Cutting or rendering the gun barrel unuseable is more realistic.